In what sounds like a perversion of the crowd-funding concept, Yota has taken to Indiegogo to bring a phone that has existed since early 2014 into existence... in North America. To perform this undertaking, the company wants a paltry $50,000, and it has set a flexible funding goal to get the funds. Fortunately that's irrelevant, because it has already shattered that bar in under three hours with the help of nearly 100 funders.

While the video makes a mention of this campaign's purpose, it's easy to browse the Indiegogo page and get the impression that the YotaPhone 2 isn't yet a thing. Well, it is. The dual-screen AMOLED and e-ink device expanded from its native Russia to European markets at the end of last year. It comes with a 5-inch Full HD AMOLED screen, a 4.7-inch 960x540 E Ink one on the back, a Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and an 8MP rear camera. The phone comes in black or white, and it received Lollipop just this month.

Here's the thing, phones aren't just going out to people in North America. The Indiegogo page shows Yota willing to ship the device to just about anywhere, including the uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands. Units start at $500 and are set to arrive sometime in August.

General distaste for crowd-funding hardware, especially existing hardware, aside—the YotaPhone 2 remains an exciting and innovative piece of tech. I'm not going to throw my money at the thing, but if you want to, I can understand.

Wait, what? They need ADDITIONAL funding to release one device, just ONE DEVICE they ever made, in a new region, which is North America?

LMAO, fuck right off, Yota, fucking frauds

Rodrigo Chiong

No, they are selling it through Indiegogo.

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

That's even worse, wow

Eric Vaughan

Why?

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

Sorry, I'm not going to trust or support a company that needs external funding via a kickstarter/indiegogo campaigns to sell a smartphone. This is a market full of competition - you either man up and willing to take the risks by entering a new region (like here) or stay where you are (Europe and Russia)

blahmoomoo

Judging by the FAQ, it looks like they had to partner up with someone in the North America region to both get the funding and the infrastructure to deliver the phone, as they are partnering with a cell communications company for Latin America. My guess is that nobody accepted their pitch in NA, so they went with Indiegogo.

They can't just set up shop here and move things over all on their own; that's just too expensive for what is certainly a niche device made by what is likely a relatively small company. Maybe that'll change in the future, but for now, this is what they can do. Don't bash a company's methods if you don't know the full picture. Not that what I said is the full picture or necessarily right either, but it's better than saying that they are cowards for not taking on the high costs and risks of jumping directly into a competitive market (at least, that's what it sounds like you're accusing them of).

kpjimmy

I hear ya, but didn't Pebble just do the same thing? I am no way shelling out half a grand to get something in August. I'd rather spend my hard earned funds on a S6 or something and get instant gratification. Hell, I'll even shell out for the edge. There, kinda like three screens lol.

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

At least Pebble ensured some hope for the success of the product considering they were entering an entirely new market of smart watches, this thing right here might not even reach you in 3 months, who knows if sales aren't good then Yoga just cancels the production entirely? Shit can happen

I'm sorry, I saw the validity of your point of view until you said Pebble "ensured some hope for the success of the product" - like, uh, they only had a project. Yotaphone is a thing, like, you can _already buy that somewhere in the world_. It has been produced, it's not a concept that can be canceled "entirely".

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

The difference was that Pebble was opening a new market for masses, and, as we can see, the project succeeded and blooming

I'm sorry, but Yota is much less trustworthy than Pebble in my eyes

dobbsy

Your comment is ridiculous. Yota EXISTS. Pebble did not. The only reason you're saying Pebble is more trustworthy is because you have the benefit of hindsight.

Further, don't you get tired of the constant "HAHA! THIS SUCKS. I SEE RIGHT THROUGH THEM!" bs? I mean, seriously, are you 12 years old? Who gives a shit what you think? Why do you feel anyone cares about your *completely unqualified opinion* that is based on nothing but your gut feeling?

So tired of haters. ("But I'm not!") Ugh, get over yourself.

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

You ask who gives a shit about what I think? Well let me ask you - who said I give a shit and care about what you think about me in this very comment of yours?

Hint - I don't

Da_James

They are a very small company which started in Russia (AFAIK) so yeah, f**** your capitalism and please, keep your fat ass*d greasy fingers away from your made-in-china keyboard and computer. Go troll away somewhere else.

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

No

Serge Cebrian

McDonalds Island??

Im lovin'it ??

Serge Cebrian

buhh you can send it to a mcdonalds but can ship it to mexico

xD

Hobie Helbich

I would love to get my hands on one of these! But i dont have any monies to throw at it...